Holiday travel always brings with it the stress of the season, but, this year, travelers who used five specific airports will want to take another look at their itineraries to make sure they did not come into contact with measles.
Several major airports announced persons with measles passed through them, some several times, during December.
In Chicago (ORD), one passenger passed through the airport twice in a single week. There is no way to know how many other passengers were exposed to the virus. According to the Chicago Health Department, the traveler visited the airport Dec. 12 and 17. On Dec. 12, the person visited a gyros restaurant, a Starbucks and Terminal 3 at the airport.
Chicago boasts one of the highest measles vaccine rates in the nation, but other states do not have as robust herd immunity as Chicago.
In Virginia, someone with measles passed through Richmond International Airport Dec. 17. Someone passed through Austin-Bergstrom International Airport Dec. 17. In Colorado, someone passed through Denver International Airport Dec. 11. Finally, in Los Angeles, someone with the virus passed through the Los Angeles International Airport Dec. 11. Check the times and locations at the various health websites to make sure you are not in danger of being exposed to the virus.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, measles is easily preventable with the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine. The MMR vaccine is usually given to kids after reaching 1 year of age, because mother-child relations keep young children protected until then. The vaccine is safe and there is no link between the MMR shot and autism, the CDC pointed out.
According to reporting from ABC News, 2019 has been the worst year in two decades for measles exposure. The agency recorded 1,276 cases in 2019 throughout most states, including Hawai’i and Alaska.
Should there be some kind of mandatory vaccination screening before people can travel on planes? Are you worried about the spread of measles in the United States? Tell us. Email us at letters@globaltravelerusa.com. Please include your full name and location.
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